The Boonville Pirates soccer team may have missed the playoffs after losing to top-seeded Southern Boone of Ashland 2-1 in the semifinal round of the district playoffs in Fulton.

But if you consider that Southern Boone is still playing today, the one-point loss against the Eagles looks better and better each day.

While closing out the season at 6-17 overall and 1-11 in the North Central Missouri Conference, the Pirates appear to be raising a few eyebrows after landing three players on the Class 1 District 7 All-District Team.

Junior Nathan Green and sophomore Tyler Drew were both selected to the first-team in the district while senior Eric Warren was a honorable-mention all-district selection.

Boonville soccer coach Tim Brown said even though the Pirates were the youngest varsity team around while starting at least seven sophomores in every match this season but one, they still managed to finish with a record of 6-17 overall, which is the most victories ever in a season at Boonville.

"We also had some other records set this year: we scored the most goals in a season as a team with 42; we had our first ever 20 goal scorer; we won two matches in a row for the first time; we won an away conference match for the first time; and we recorded our first-ever district shutout," stated Brown.

Drew, two-year starter, led the team in every offensive category this season. Brown said Drew had 116 shot attempts, 65 shots on goal, seven assists and 23 goals in 23 matches and started the new single-season record for the boys program; the previous record was 16 goals. He also became the first Pirate striker to make the all-conference team, Brown said.

As for Green, Brown said in his opinion Nathan is the most underrated goalkeeper around.

"He consistently keeps the team in matches," Brown said. "Unfortunately, he is surrounded by inexperienced defenders, so the 10 miraculous saves he makes every match are overshadowed by the three goals he allows on the approximately 20 close-range shots per game he faces."

As for Warren, who transferred to Boonville two weeks into the season, Brown said he had no idea what to do with Eric. "Incredibly athletic and full of confidence, Eric eventually found his home at left back, and we were glad to have him, if only for one season," Brown said.